France will expel an Algerian-born Muslim prayer leader for defending the stoning and beating of adulterous wives as acceptable in Islam even though illegal under French law, the Interior Ministry said today.
Mr Abdelkader Bouziane (52) imam of a mosque in the Lyon suburb of Venissieux in eastern France, told the monthly Lyon Mag that the Koran allowed husbands to beat unfaithful spouses as long as they did not strike them on the face.
The Interior Ministry said Mr Bouziane was arrested on today afternoon and an expulsion order against him - which was issued on February 26th but not publicised at the time - would be applied immediately. Mr Bouziane has lived in France since 1979.
"The government cannot tolerate that remarks are made publicly against human rights and dignity, especially the dignity of women, or that there are calls to hate or violence or apologies for terrorism," it said.
France, whose five million Muslims make up Europe's largest Islamic minority, expelled a radical preacher to his native Algeria last week for preaching radical Islam and defending the March 11th Madrid train bombs that killed 191 people.
Three Turkish imams have also been expelled this year. After his interview caused an uproar in Lyon, Mr Bouziane told journalists that he was only explaining what the Koran said.
"Religion says this and the law says that, but I was never against the law," he said before his arrest.